Methods for the preparation of biphenyl isoxazole sulfonamides

ABSTRACT

Methods for the preparation of biphenyl isoxazole sulfonamides and intermediates thereof. The present invention also relates to the novel intermediates prepared by these methods. The biphenyl isoxazole sulfonamides prepared by the present methods are endothelin antagonists useful, inter alia, for the treatment of hypertension.

[0001] This application claims priority benefit under Title 35 §119(e)of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/240,902 filed on Oct. 17, 2000,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to methods for the preparation ofbiphenyl isoxazole sulfonamides and intermediates thereof. The presentinvention also relates to the novel intermediates prepared by thesemethods. The biphenyl isoxazole sulfonamides prepared by the presentmethods are endothelin antagonists useful, inter alia, for the treatmentof hypertension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present methods allow preparation of biphenyl sulfonamides ofthe following formula I:

[0004] where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independently beunsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups,enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts, preferably pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts, thereof. Preferred substituent groups for the biphenylgroup include those groups R¹¹ to R¹⁴ described herein and especially,when the biphenyl group is a 2-biphenyl group, the group

[0005] in the 4′-position. Preferred methods of the present inventionallow preparation of compounds of the following formula Ia:

[0006] enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts, preferablypharmaceutically acceptable salts, thereof. Throughout thisspecification, the above symbols are defined as follows:

[0007] one of X and Y is N and the other is O;

[0008] R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are each directly bonded to a ring carbon andare each independently

[0009] (a) hydrogen;

[0010] (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³;

[0011] (c) halo;

[0012] (d) hydroxyl;

[0013] (e) cyano;

[0014] (f) nitro;

[0015] (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵;

[0016] (h) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵;

[0017] (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷;

[0018] (j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or

[0019] (k) R³ and R⁴ together may also be alkylene or alkenylene, eitherof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 4- to8-membered saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ring together with thecarbon atoms to which they are attached;

[0020] R⁵ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³;

[0021] R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently

[0022] (a) hydrogen; or

[0023] (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, arylor aralkyl, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; or

[0024] R⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene or alkenylene, either of whichmay be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-memberedsaturated or unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atom to whichthey are attached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ together are alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the atoms to which they are attached;

[0025] R¹¹ R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently

[0026] (a) hydrogen;

[0027] (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,

[0028] (c) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy;

[0029] (d) halo;

[0030] (e) hydroxyl;

[0031] (f) cyano;

[0032] (g) nitro;

[0033] (h) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵;

[0034] (i) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵;

[0035] (j) —SH, —S(O)_(n)R⁵, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OR⁵,—O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵;

[0036] (k)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; or

[0037] (l)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹;

[0038] Z¹, Z² and Z³ are each independently

[0039] (a) hydrogen;

[0040] (b) halo;

[0041] (c) hydroxy;

[0042] (d) alkyl;

[0043] (e) alkenyl;

[0044] (f) aryl;

[0045] (g) aralkyl;

[0046] (h) alkoxy;

[0047] (i) aryloxy;

[0048] (j) aralkoxy;

[0049] (k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy;

[0050] (l) —SH, —S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶,—O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶;

[0051] (m) oxo;

[0052] (n) nitro;

[0053] (o) cyano;

[0054] (p) —C(O)H or —C(O)Z⁶;

[0055] (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶;

[0056] (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸;

[0057] (s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H;

[0058] (t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or

[0059] (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸;

[0060] Z⁴ and Z⁵ are each independently

[0061] (a) a single bond;

[0062] (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-;

[0063] (C)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-;

[0064] (d)-Z⁹-C(S)-Z¹⁰-;

[0065] (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-;

[0066] (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-;

[0067] (g)-Z⁹-O—C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or

[0068] (h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-;

[0069] Z⁶ is alkyl; alkyl substituted with one to three groups selectedfrom halogen, aryl, aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl; alkynyl; cycloalkyl;cycloalkyl substituted with one to three groups selected from alkyl,aryl, alkenyl and alkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to which is fused a benzenering; aryloxy substituted with one or two halogens; cycloalkylalkyl;cycloalkenyl; cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substituted withmethylenedioxy or one to four groups selected from alkyl, dialkylamino,cyano, halogen, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; or heterocycleor substituted heterocycle;

[0070] Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or Z⁷ and Z⁸together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to 8-memberedsaturated or unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atom to whichthey are attached;

[0071] Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are each independently a single bond, alkylene,alkenylene or alkynylene;

[0072] Z¹¹ is

[0073] (a) hydrogen; or

[0074] (b) alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or three halogens,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl;

[0075] or any two of Z⁷, Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene or alkenylene,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the atoms to which they are attached;

[0076] J is O, S, N or NR¹⁵;

[0077] K and L are N or C, provided that at least one of K or L is C;

[0078] R¹⁵ is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyethoxy methyl or methoxyethoxymethyl;

[0079] each m is independently 1 or 2;

[0080] each n is independently 0, 1 or 2; and

[0081] p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2.

[0082] In accordance herewith, a compound of the formula I or saltthereof may be prepared by a method comprising the steps of:

[0083] (a) contacting a pinacol ester of the formula II or salt thereof:

[0084]  where the phenyl ring of said formula II may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein, with a compound of the formula III or salt thereof:

[0085]  where R¹⁶ is halogen or a group —O-Q, where Q is —SO₂CF₃,—SO₂CH₃, or

[0086]  and where the phenyl ring of said formula III may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein, and especially, when the biphenyl group of saidcompound of the formula I or salt thereof is a 2-biphenyl, the group

[0087]  para to the halo group, in the presence of a palladium(0)catalyst and, preferably, a base, to form a nitrogen-protected compoundof the formula IV or salt thereof:

[0088]  where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independentlybe unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups; and

[0089] (b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula IVor salt thereof to form said compound of the formula I or salt thereof.

[0090] “Prot”, as used in formula II and throughout this specification,denotes an alkoxymethyl nitrogen-protecting group, and is preferablymethoxymethyl (“MOM”).

[0091] In a preferred embodiment, a compound of the formula Ia or saltthereof may be prepared by a method comprising the steps of:

[0092] (a) contacting a pinacol ester of the formula IIa or saltthereof:

[0093]  with a compound of the formula IIIa or salt thereof:

[0094]  where R¹⁶ is preferably halo (preferably chloro, bromo or iodoand most preferably bromo or iodo), in the presence of a palladium(0)catalyst and, preferably, a base, to form a nitrogen-protected compoundof the formula IVa or salt thereof:

[0095] (b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said formula IVa compound orsalt thereof to form said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof.

[0096] The present methods for preparing a compound of the formula I orsalt thereof are advantageous in that they provide high yields withminimal or no formation of impurities. The present methods are furtheradvantageous in that they provide a superior route to compounds offormula I in terms of practicality, ease of operation, cost and safety.

[0097] Further provided herewith are novel intermediates of the presentmethods, and novel methods for preparing such intermediates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0098] The present invention is described further as follows. Listedbelow are definitions of terms used in this specification. Thesedefinitions apply to the terms as used throughout this specification,individually or as part of another group, unless otherwise indicated inspecific instances.

[0099] The term “alkyl” or “alk-” refers to straight or branched chainhydrocarbon groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 7 carbonatoms. The expression “lower alkyl” refers to alkyl groups of 1 to 4carbon atoms.

[0100] The term “alkoxy” refers to alkyl-O—.

[0101] The term “aryl” or “ar-” refers to phenyl, naphthyl and biphenyl.

[0102] The term “alkenyl” refers to straight or branched chainhydrocarbon groups of 2 to 10 carbon atoms having at least one doublebond. Groups of two to four carbon atoms are preferred.

[0103] The term “alkynyl” refers to straight or branched chain groups of2 to 10 carbon atoms having at least one triple bond. Groups of two tofour carbon atoms are preferred.

[0104] The term “alkylene” refers to a straight chain bridge of 1 to 5carbon atoms connected by single bonds (e.g., —(CH₂)_(x)— wherein x is 1to 5), which may be substituted with 1 to 3 lower alkyl groups.

[0105] The term “alkenylene” refers to a straight chain bridge of 2 to 5carbon atoms having one or two double bonds that is connected by singlebonds and may be substituted with 1 to 3 lower alkyl groups. Exemplaryalkenylene groups are —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —CH₂—CH═CH—, —CH₂—CH═CH—CH₂—,—C(CH₃)₂CH═CH— and —CH(C₂H₅)—CH═CH—.

[0106] The term “alkynylene” refers to a straight chain bridge of 2 to 5carbon atoms that has a triple bond therein, is connected by singlebonds, and may be substituted with 1 to 3 lower alkyl groups. Exemplaryalkynylene groups are —C≡C—, —CH₂—C≡C—, —CH(CH₃)—C≡C— and—C≡C—CH(C₂H₅)CH₂—.

[0107] The term “alkanoyl” refers to groups of the formula —C(O)alkyl.

[0108] The terms “cycloalkyl” and “cycloalkenyl”, refer to cyclichydrocarbon groups of 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

[0109] The term “hydroxyalkyl”, refers to an alkyl group including oneor more hydroxy radicals such as —CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂OHCH₂OH, —CH(CH₂OH)₂and the like.

[0110] The terms “halogen” and “halo” refer to fluorine, chlorine,bromine and iodine.

[0111] The terms “heterocycle”, “heterocyclic” and “heterocyclo” referto an optionally substituted, fully saturated or unsaturated, aromaticor nonaromatic cyclic group, for example, which is a 4 to 7 memberedmonocyclic, 7 to 11 membered bicyclic, or 10 to 15 membered tricyclicring system, which has at least one heteroatom in at least one carbonatom-containing ring. Each ring of the heterocyclic group containing aheteroatom may have 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen atoms,oxygen atoms or sulfur atoms, where the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatomsmay optionally be oxidized and the nitrogen heteroatoms may optionallybe quaternized. The heterocyclic group may be attached at any heteroatomor carbon atom.

[0112] Exemplary monocyclic heterocyclic groups include pyrrolidinyl,pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, oxetanyl, pyrazolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, oxazolyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolinyl, isoxazolyl,thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl,furyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thienyl, oxadiazolyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl,2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolodinyl, 2-oxoazepinyl,azepinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl,tetrahydropyranyl, morpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinylsulfoxide, thiamorpholinyl sulfone, 1,3-dioxolane andtetrahydro-1,1-dioxothienyl, and the like.

[0113] Exemplary bicyclic heterocyclic groups include indolyl,benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothienyl, quinuclidinyl, quinolinyl,tetra-hydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzopyranyl,indolizinyl, benzofuryl, chromonyl, coumarinyl, benzopyranyl,cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indazolyl, pyrrolopyridyl, furopyridinyl (suchas furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, furo[3,2-b]pyridinyl] or furo[2,3-b]pyridinyl),dihydroisoindolyl, dihydroquinazolinyl (such as3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-quinazolinyl), tetrahydroquinolinyl and the like.

[0114] Exemplary tricyclic heterocyclic groups include carbazolyl,benzidolyl, phenanthrolinyl, acridinyl, phenanthridinyl, xanthenyl andthe like.

[0115] The expression “substituted heterocycle” refers to a heterocyclesubstituted with 1, 2 or 3 of the following:

[0116] (a) alkyl, especially lower alkyl;

[0117] (b) hydroxy (or protected hydroxy);

[0118] (c) halo;

[0119] (d) oxo (i.e. ═0);

[0120] (e) amino, alkylamino or dialkylamino;

[0121] (f) alkoxy;

[0122] (g) carbocyclo, such as cycloalkyl;

[0123] (h) carboxy;

[0124] (i) heterocyclooxy;

[0125] (j) alkoxycarbonyl, such as unsubstituted lower alkoxycarbonyl;

[0126] (k) carbamyl, alkylcarbamyl or dialkylcarbamyl;

[0127] (l) mercapto;

[0128] (m) nitro;

[0129] (n) cyano;

[0130] (o) carboalkoxy;

[0131] (p) sulfonamido, sulfonamidoalkyl or sulfonamidodialkyl;

[0132] (s) aryl;

[0133] (t) alkylcarbonyloxy;

[0134] (u) arylcarbonyloxy;

[0135] (v) arylthio;

[0136] (w) aryloxy;

[0137] (x) alkylthio;

[0138] (y) formyl;

[0139] (z) arylalkyl; or

[0140] (a′) aryl substituted with alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy,amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, halo or trihaloalkyl.

[0141] The term “heterocyclooxy” denotes a heterocyclic group bondedthrough an oxygen bridge.

[0142] Throughout the specification, groups and substituents thereof maybe chosen to provide stable moieties and compounds.

[0143] The compounds of formula I and intermediates thereof may formsalts which are also within the scope of this invention.Pharmaceutically acceptable (i.e., non-toxic, physiologicallyacceptable) salts are preferred, although other salts are also useful,for example, in isolating or purifying the compounds of this invention.

[0144] The compounds of formula I and intermediates thereof may formsalts with alkali metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium, withalkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, with organic basessuch as dicyclohexylamine, t-butyl amine, benzathine,N-methyl-D-glucamide and hydrabamine, and with amino acids such asarginine, lysine and the like. Such salts may be obtained by reactingthese compounds with the desired ion in a medium in which the saltprecipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization.

[0145] When groups such as the R¹ to R⁴ or R¹¹ to R¹⁴ substituentscomprise a basic moiety, such as amino or substituted amino, thecompounds of formula I and intermediates thereof may form salts with avariety of organic and inorganic acids. Such salts include those formedwith hydrochloric acid, hydrogen bromide, methanesulfonic acid, sulfuricacid, acetic acid, maleic acid, benzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate andvarious other sulfonates, nitrates, phosphates, borates, acetates,tartrates, maleates, citrates, succinates, benzoates, ascorbates,salicylates and the like. Such salts may be formed by reacting thesecompounds in an equivalent amount of the acid in a medium in which thesalt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization.

[0146] In addition, when groups such as the R¹ to R⁴ or R¹¹ to R¹⁴substituents comprise a basic moiety such as amino, zwitterions (“innersalts”) may be formed.

[0147] Certain groups such as the R¹ to R⁴ and R¹¹ to R¹⁴ substituentsof the compounds of the invention may contain asymmetric carbon atoms.The compounds of the invention such as those of the formula I and saltsthereof may exist, therefore, in enantiomeric and diastereomeric formsand in racemic mixtures thereof. All are within the scope of thisinvention. Additionally, compounds such as those of formula I and saltsthereof may exist as enantiomers even in the absence of asymmetriccarbons (e.g., atropisomers). All such enantiomers are within the scopeof this invention.

[0148] U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,359, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No.5,846,990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,507, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/528,819, filed Mar. 20, 2000 (AttorneyDocket No. HA708) by Singh et al. entitled “Methods for the Preparationof Biphenyl Isoxazole Sulfonamides”, describing endothelin antagonists,starting materials and methods, are each incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Coupling of Formulae II and III Compounds, and Deprotection

[0149] A compound of the formula I or salt thereof may be prepared bycoupling a pinacol ester of the formula II or salt thereof with acompound of the formula III or salt thereof, and by deprotecting thenitrogen-protected compound IV or salt thereof formed by theaforementioned coupling.

[0150] Coupling of compounds of the formulae II and III or salts thereofis conducted in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst, preferablypalladium acetate/triphenylphosphine or other palladium (II)salt/triphenylphosphine, tetrakistri phenylphosphine palladium ortris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium, and, preferably, a base,preferably aqueous potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate, to form anitrogen-protected compound of the formula IV or salt thereof. Thepreferred molar ratio of palladium (II) salt to triphenylphosphine isbetween 1:1 and 1:3. See the conditions for catalysis described by A.Suzuki et al., Pure & Applied Chemistry, 63, 419-422 (1991); A. Martinet al., Acta. Chem. Scand., 47, 221 (1993); H. Jendralla et al., LiebigAnn., 1253 (1995), G. B. Smith et al., J. Org. Chem., 1994, 59, 8151 allincorporated herein by reference.

[0151] When the compound III is a compound IIIa, protection of theheteroatoms J and K or L may be desirable, in certain instances, tofacilitate the coupling reaction. For example, when J and K or L are N,one of the groups may be protected by a suitable protecting group suchas t-butoxycarbonyl, etc. Specific R¹¹-R¹⁴ groups may be chosen to becompatible with the reaction conditions. Additionally, specific R¹¹-R¹⁴groups may be converted into alternative R¹¹-R¹⁴ groups, either beforeor after coupling, using any suitable methods such as those known in theart.

[0152] The coupling method is preferably conducted at a temperature offrom about 25° C. to about 100° C. (most preferably from about 45° C. toabout 75° C.), at a pressure of about 1 atm, and under an atmosphere ofargon or nitrogen. Molar ratios of the pinacol ester II or salt thereofto the compound III or salt thereof are preferably from about 1:1 toabout 1:1.2. Amounts of palladium(0) catalyst and base are selected tocatalyze the coupling reaction and are preferably from about 2.5 mol %to about 10 mol %, and from about 2.5 equivalents to about 7equivalents, respectively. Solvents are preferably employed which areselected from aqueous or organic liquids such as acetone, ethanol,toluene, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane and water, or mixturesthereof, preferably a mixture of toluene, ethanol and water. Amounts ofsolvent are preferably those wherein the pinacol ester II or saltthereof is from about 4 to about 9% by weight, based on the combinedweight of solvent and pinacol ester II or salt thereof. For example, thefollowing are exemplary ranges for solvent/pinacol ester II/base:tetrahydrofuran (30 to 70 mL), toluene (200 to 300 mL), ethanol (80 to160 mL)/pinacol ester II (15 to 20 g)/aqueous 2M sodium carbonate (100to 150 mL).

[0153] Residual palladium catalyst is preferably removed, either beforeor after deprotection of the compound of formula IV or salt thereof, bycontact with a chelating agent such as trithiocyanuric acid (“TMT”).Crystallization providing a suitable crystalline form of the compound ofthe formula I or salt thereof, subsequent to deprotection of thecompound of the formula IV or salt thereof, is also contemplated by thepresent invention. Preferably, crystallization is achieved from asupersaturated isopropanol solution, with or without the presence ofco-solvents such as heptane or water, especially where seeded with thedesired crystalline form. Most preferably, crystallization is conductedby the methods of the Examples herein.

[0154] Compounds of the formula III and salts thereof may be prepared bymethods analogous to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,359, U.S.Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,507,U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,819.Preferably, oxazole compounds of the formula IIIa or salts thereof areprepared by the novel methods for their preparation described herein.Compounds of the formula II and salts thereof are preferably prepared bythe novel methods for their preparation described herein.

[0155] Deprotection of the formula IV compound or salt thereof formed bythe present coupling method may be conducted by any suitable method,such as methods analogous to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,359,U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,990, U.S. Pat. No.5,856,507, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/528,819. Preferably, deprotection is conducted by heating in amixture of aqueous HCl and ethanol.

Preparation of Formula II Compounds

[0156] The pinacol esters of the formula II and salts thereof maythemselves be formed by novel methods provided herein. In accordanceherewith, a pinacol ester of the formula II or salt thereof may beprepared by a method comprising the steps of:

[0157] (a) contacting a compound of the formula V or salt thereof:

[0158]  where the phenyl group of said formula V may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein, and where halo is preferably bromo, chloro or iodo,most preferably bromo, with an amine of the formula VI or salt thereof:

[0159] in the presence of an organic base (e.g. pyridine)(preferably inthe presence of a catalyst such as DMAP) and optionally an organicsolvent, to form a compound of the formula VII or salt thereof:

[0160]  where the phenyl group of said formula VII may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein;

[0161] (b) protecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula VIIor salt thereof by contacting the compound of formula VII with acompound of formula XX

[0162]  where R¹⁷ is alkoxy (preferably methoxy), or halogen, and R¹⁸ isalkoxy (preferably methoxy), in the presence of a Lewis or protic acid(preferably P₂O₅) when R¹⁷ is alkoxy, or in the presence of a base whenR¹⁷ is halo, to form a compound of the formula VIII or salt thereof:

[0163]  where the phenyl group of said formula VIII may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein;

[0164] (c) lithiating said compound of the formula VIII or salt thereofwith an alkyl or aryl lithium compound and contacting the lithiatedproduct formed with a trialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form aboronic acid of the formula IX or salt thereof:

[0165]  where the phenyl group of said formula IX may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein; and

[0166] (d) contacting said compound of the formula IX or salt thereofwith pinacol (i.e., 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol), with removal of water,thereby forming said compound of the formula II or salt thereof.

[0167] In a preferred embodiment, a pinacol ester of the formula IIa orsalt thereof may be prepared by a method comprising the steps of:

[0168] (a) contacting a compound of the formula Va or salt thereof:

[0169]  with an amine of the formula VIa or salt thereof:

[0170] in the presence of an organic base and optionally and organicsolvent, to form a compound of the formula VIIa or salt thereof:

[0171] (b) protecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula VIIaor salt thereof by contacting the compound of formula VII with acompound of formula XX

[0172]  where R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each methoxy, in the presence of a Lewisor protic acid (preferably P₂O₅) to form a compound of the formula VIIIaor salt thereof:

[0173] (c) lithiating said compound of the formula VIIIa or salt thereofwith an alkyl or aryl lithium compound and contacting the lithiatedproduct formed with a trialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form aboronic acid of the formula IXa or salt thereof:

[0174] (d) contacting said compound of the formula IXa or salt thereofwith pinacol, with removal of water, thereby forming said compound ofthe formula IIa or salt thereof.

[0175] The term “leaving group”, as used herein, denotes any suitableleaving group such as a halo group, preferably chloro. Any suitableorganic base may be employed in step (a). Preferred organic basesinclude amines such as pyridine or a trialkylamine. The organic solventoptionally employed in step (a) is preferably a haloalkane, such asdichloromethane or 1,2-dichloroethane, or the organic base, such as neatpyridine, may also function as the solvent.

[0176] As described above, compounds of the formula VIII and saltsthereof may be prepared by contacting a compound of the formula V orsalt thereof with an amine compound of the formula VI or salt thereof,and by protecting the nitrogen of the product compound VII or saltthereof. The formula VIII compound or salt thereof obtained is thenlithiated with an alkyl or aryl lithium compound, preferably withn-butyl lithium or phenyl lithium, at temperatures which are preferablyfrom about −40° C. to about −105° C. (especially, from about −70° C. toabout −100° C.), to form the compound:

[0177] where the phenyl group of said compound may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein, or salt thereof, preferably the compound:

[0178] or salt thereof. Treatment of the lithiated compound or saltthereof with a trialkylborate such as triisopropylborate or, preferably,trimethylborate, at temperatures which are preferably from about −40° C.to about −105° C. (especially, from about −70° C. to about −100° C.),provides the following boronate ester:

[0179] where the phenyl group of said compound may be furthersubstituted, such as with one or more groups described for the groupsR¹¹ to R¹⁴ herein, or salt thereof, preferably the boronate ester:

[0180] or salt thereof, which may then be hydrolyzed with a suitableacid, preferably an aqueous acid such as aqueous hydrochloric acid, orwith a suitable base, to form the boronic acid IX or salt thereof. Thehydrolysis step, forming the boronic acid IX or salt thereof, isadvantageous as the boronic acid provides a handle for purification (theboronic acid moiety) by simple physical/chemical means whereas the theboronate ester from which it is obtained does not. The aforementionedsteps may be conducted by methods analogous to those described in, andwith starting materials of the formulae V and VI and salts thereofprepared by methods analogous to those described in U.S. Pat. No.5,612,359, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,990, U.S. Pat.No. 5,856,507, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/528,819.

[0181] The boronic acid IX or salt thereof may then be contacted withpinacol, with the removal of water, to form the corresponding pinacolester II or salt thereof. Removal of water may be conducted, forexample, by the addition of a drying agent such as magnesium sulfate orby azeotropic removal of water by heating with a solvent such astoluene. This reaction is preferably conducted at a temperature of fromabout 110° C. to about 120° C. (most preferably from about 112° C. toabout 115° C.), at a pressure of about 1 atm, and under an atmosphere ofargon or nitrogen. Molar ratios of pinacol to the boronic acid IX orsalt thereof are preferably from about 1:1 to about 1.1:1. Solvents arepreferably employed which are selected from organic liquids such astoluene. Amounts of solvent are preferably those wherein the boronicacid IX or salt thereof is from about 4 to about 10% by weight, based onthe combined weight of solvent and boronic acid IX or salt thereof.

[0182] The boronic acid IX or salt thereof (preferably, the preferredboronic acid IXa or salt thereof) may be directly coupled with thecompound III or salt thereof to form a formula IV compound or saltthereof. This method, especially where the compound III or salt thereofis a halophenyl compound or salt thereof (preferably, an iodophenyl orbromophenyl compound IIIa or salt thereof), is also contemplated by thepresent invention. The pinacol ester II or salt thereof in place of theboronic acid IX or salt thereof may be advantageous, however, as thepinacol ester compounds are highly stable, and lesser amounts ofimpurities may be formed and higher yields of the formula IV compound orsalt thereof may be obtained upon coupling with a halophenyl compoundIII or salt thereof.

Preparation of Formula III Compounds

[0183] Compounds of the formula III and salts thereof may be prepared bymethods analogous to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,359, U.S.Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,507,U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,819.Preferred compounds of the formula IIIa and salts thereof bearing anoxazole ring may also be formed by novel methods provided herein. Inaccordance herewith, a formula IIIa(1) oxazole or salt thereof may beprepared by a method comprising the steps of:

[0184] (a) contacting a phenyl acid halide X or salt thereof:

[0185]  with either triazole in the presence of a base (preferablysodium hydride), or an N-trimethylsilyl derivative of triazole, to forma triazole amide the formula XI or salt thereof:

[0186] (b) effecting a nitrogen elimination rearrangement (e.g.,thermally, photochemically, or by other catalytic means known in theart) of the triazole amide of formula XI or salt thereof, to form anoxazole of the formula IIIa(1) or salt thereof:

[0187] The starting phenyl acid halide of formula X or salt thereof iscommercially available or may readily be prepared by one of ordinaryskill in the art. The halo group of the acid halide moiety is preferablychloro; R¹⁶ is preferably bromo, chloro, or iodo, most preferably iodoor bromo. Triazole and its N-trimethylsilyl derivatives are alsocommercially available or may readily be prepared by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

[0188] The base employed in step (a) may be any suitable base, and ispreferably sodium hydride. Coupling of the acid halide of formula X orsalt thereof with 1,2,3-triazole and subsequent nitrogenelimination/rearrangement is conducted in a solvent such as sulfolane inthe presence of potassium carbonate at temperatures of 80-110° C. or bypreforming the salt of 1,2,3-triazole with a base such as sodium hydridein a solvent such as sulfolane, and reacting the salt with the acidchloride X at temperatures of 80-110° C. Coupling of the acid halide offormula X with N-trimethylsilyl-1,2,3-triazole and subsequent nitrogenelimination/rearrangement can be effected in solvents like toluene,xylenes, and sulfolane at temperatures of 80-150° C.

[0189] Preferred compounds of the formula I can be prepared fromcompounds of the formula IIIa(2)

[0190] which may also be formed by novel methods provided herein. Inaccordance herewith a compound of formula IIIa(2) may be prepared by amethod comprising the step of:

[0191] (a) hydrolyzing a compound of formula IIIb or salt thereof

[0192]  where *R¹¹ is dihalomethyl (preferably dibromomethyl,

[0193] in the presence of a nucleophilic base (e.g. a secondary aminesuch as morpholine) to form a compound of formula IIIa(2).

[0194] Compounds of the formula IIIb may be formed from a processcomprising the steps of:

[0195] (a) contacting a compound of formula XXI

[0196]  with a suitable halogenating agent (such as N-bromosuccinimideor 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin to form a compound of the formulaXXII

[0197] where *R¹¹ is dihalomethyl (preferably dibromomethyl);

[0198] (b) converting said compound of formula XXII to an aryl acidhalide compound of formula Xa

[0199]  (e.g. by reacting XXII with reagants such as oxalylchloride,thionyl chloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride orphosphorus tribromide; and

[0200] (c) converting said compound of formula Xa to a compound offormula IIIb (e.g., through reaction with triazole or anN-trimethylsilyl derivative thereof as described previously herein, orthrough other methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No.5,612,359, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,869, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,990, U.S. Pat.No. 5,856,507, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,265 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/528,819.

[0201] The compound XXI can be reacted with a brominating agent such asN-bromosuccinimide at temperatures of 100-120° C. in solvents such astrifluorotoluene or dichlorobenzene in the presence of radicalinitiators such 2,2′-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile to provide XXII.Conversion of XXII to acid chloride Xa can be carried out with oxalylchloride in toluene or dichloromethane in the presence of a small amountof N,N-dimethyl formamide. Coupling of the acid halide of formula Xawith 1,2,3-triazole and subsequent nitrogen elimination/rearrangement isconducted in a solvent such as sulfolane in the presence of potassiumcarbonate at temperatures of 80-110° C. or by preforming the salt of1,2,3-triazole with a base such as sodium hydride in sulfolane, andreacting the salt with the acid chloride Xa at temperatures of 80-110°C. The compounds of the formula IIIa and salts thereof may also be usedin a further method (“reverse coupling”) contemplated by the presentinvention, for the preparation of compounds of the formula Ia or saltsthereof, comprising the steps of:

[0202] (a) lithiating a compound of the formula IIIa or salt thereof:

[0203]  preferably, a compound of the formula IIIa(1) or salt thereof,with an alkyl or aryl lithium compound in the presence of atrialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form a boronic acid of theformula XIII or salt thereof:

[0204] (b) contacting the boronic acid of the formula XIII or saltthereof with a compound of the formula VIIIa or salt thereof:

[0205]  where halo is preferably bromo, iodo or chloro, most preferablybromo, in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, preferably, abase, to form a nitrogen-protected compound of the formula IVa or saltthereof:

[0206] (c) deprotecting the nitrogen of said formula IVa compound orsalt thereof to form said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof.

[0207] With respect to this method, lithiation is conducted in thepresence of a trialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis which may beconducted under conditions as described herein for the preparation ofboronic acids of the formula IX and salts thereof. Coupling in thepresence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, preferably, base, anddeprotection of the nitrogen-protected coupled product, may be conductedunder conditions as described herein for the coupling of compounds ofthe formulae II and III and salts thereof, and deprotection of theproduct thereof. Lithiation provides a compound having the followingstructure or a salt thereof:

[0208] contact with a trialkylborate provides the following boronateester or a salt thereof:

Preferred Compounds

[0209] It is preferred that the compounds employed in or prepared by thepresent methods contain one or more, preferably all where appropriate,of the following substituents:

[0210] X is O and N is Y;

[0211] the ring bearing K, L and J is 2-oxazole;

[0212] p is zero;

[0213] R¹ and R² are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl,hydroxyalkyl, —CO₂R⁵ or -Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷, most preferably lower alkyl orhydrogen;

[0214] R³ and R⁴ are each independently alkyl, most preferably loweralkyl, especially methyl; and

[0215] R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy,amino, heterocyclo, alkenyl, alkoxy, carboxamide or substituted loweralkyl, most preferably, R¹² to R¹⁴ are hydrogen and R¹¹ is hydrogen,hydroxy, amino, heterocyclo, alkenyl, alkoxy, carboxamide or substitutedlower alkyl (such as —CH₂—N(CH₃)—C(O)—CH₂—C(CH₃)₃).

[0216] Compounds of the formula I of particular interest includeN-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4′-(2-oxazolyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamideand salts thereof, andN-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamideand salts thereof.

Utility of Compounds of Formula I and Salts Thereof as EndothelinAntagonists

[0217] The compounds of the formula I and salts thereof are antagonistsof ET-1, ET-2 and/or ET-3 and are useful in treatment of conditionsassociated with increased ET levels (e.g., dialysis, trauma and surgery)and of all endothelin-dependent disorders. They are thus useful asantihypertensive agents. By the administration of a composition havingone (or a combination) of the compounds of this invention, the bloodpressure of a hypertensive mammalian (e.g., human) host is reduced. Theyare also useful in pregnancy-induced hypertension and coma (preeclampsiaand eclampsia), acute portal hypertension and hypertension secondary totreatment with erythropoietin.

[0218] The compounds of the present invention are also useful in thetreatment of disorders related to renal, glomerular and mesangial cellfunction, including acute and chronic renal failure, glomerular injury,renal damage secondary to old age or related to dialysis,nephrosclerosis (especially hypertensive nephrosclerosis),nephrotoxicity (including nephrotoxicity related to imaging and contrastagents and to cyclosporine), renal ischemia, primary vesicoureteralreflux, glomerulosclerosis and the like. The compounds of this inventionmay also be useful in the treatment of disorders related to paracrineand endocrine function.

[0219] The compounds of the present invention are also useful in thetreatment of endotoxemia or endotoxin shock as well as hemorrhagicshock.

[0220] The compounds of the present invention are also useful in hypoxicand ischemic disease and as anti-ischemic agents for the treatment of,for example, cardiac, renal and cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (suchas that occurring following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery), coronaryand cerebral vasospasm, and the like.

[0221] In addition, the compounds of this invention may also be usefulas anti-arrhythmic agents; anti-anginal agents; anti-fibrillatoryagents; anti-asthmatic agents; anti-atherosclerotic andanti-arteriosclerotic agents; additives to cardioplegic solutions forcardiopulmonary bypasses; adjuncts to thrombolytic therapy; andanti-diarrheal agents. The compounds of this invention may be useful intherapy for myocardial infarction; therapy for peripheral vasculardisease (e.g., Raynaud's disease and Takayashu's disease); treatment ofcardiac hypertrophy (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy); treatment ofprimary pulmonary hypertension (e.g., plexogenic, embolic) in adults andin the newborn and pulmonary hypertension secondary to heart failure,radiation and chemotherapeutic injury, or other trauma; treatment ofcentral nervous system vascular disorders, such as stroke, migraine andsubarachnoid hemorrhage; treatment of central nervous system behavioraldisorders; treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerativecolitis, Crohn's disease, gastric mucosal damage, ulcer and ischemicbowel disease; treatment of gall bladder or bile duct-based diseasessuch as cholangitis; treatment of pancreatitis; regulation of cellgrowth; treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy; restenosis followingangioplasty or following any procedures including transplantation;therapy for congestive heart failure including inhibition of fibrosis;inhibition of left ventricular dilatation, remodeling and dysfunction;and treatment of hepatotoxicity and sudden death. The compounds of thisinvention may be useful in the treatment of sickle cell diseaseincluding the initiation and/or evolution of the pain crises of thisdisease; treatment of the deleterious consequences of ET-producingtumors such as hypertension resulting from hemangiopericytoma; treatmentof early and advanced liver disease and injury including attendantcomplications (e.g., hepatotoxicity, fibrosis and cirrhosis); treatmentof spastic diseases of the urinary tract and/or bladder; treatment ofhepatorenal syndrome; treatment of immunological diseases involvingvasculitis such as lupus, systemic sclerosis, mixed cryoglobulinemia;and treatment of fibrosis associated with renal dysfunction andhepatotoxicity. The compounds of this invention may be useful in therapyfor metabolic and neurological disorders; cancer; insulin-dependent andnon insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; neuropathy; retinopathy;maternal respiratory distress syndrome; dysmenorrhea; epilepsy;hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke; bone remodeling; psoriasis; and chronicinflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,sarcoidosis and eczematous dermatitis (all types of dermatitis).

[0222] The compounds of the formula I and salts thereof can also beformulated in combination with endothelin converting enzyme (ECE)inhibitors, such as phosphoramidon; thromboxane receptor antagonists;potassium channel openers; thrombin inhibitors (e.g., hirudin and thelike); growth factor inhibitors such as modulators of PDGF activity;platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists; angiotensin II (AII)receptor antagonists; renin inhibitors; angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitors such as captopril, zofenopril, fosinopril, ceranapril,alacepril, enalapril, delapril, pentopril, quinapril, ramipril,lisinopril and salts of such compounds; neutral endopeptidase (NEP)inhibitors; dual NEP-ACE inhibitors; HMG CoA reductase inhibitors suchas pravastatin and mevacor; squalene synthetase inhibitors; bile acidsequestrants such as questran; calcium channel blockers; potassiumchannel activators; beta-adrenergic agents; antiarrhythmic agents;diuretics, such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, flumethiazide,hydroflumethiazide, bendroflumethiazide, methylchlorothiazide,trichloromethiazide, polythiazide or benzothiazide as well as ethacrynicacid, tricrynafen, chlorthalidone, furosemide, musolimine, bumetamide,triamterene, amiloride and spironolactone and salts of such compounds;and thrombolytic agents such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA),recombinant tPA, streptokinase, urokinase, prourokinase and anisoylatedplasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC). If formulated as afixed dose, such combination products employ the compounds of thisinvention within the dosage range described below and the otherpharmaceutically active agent within its approved dosage range. Thecompounds of this invention may also be formulated with, or useful inconjunction with, antifungal and immunosuppressive agents such asamphotericin B, cyclosporins and the like to counteract the glomerularcontraction and nephrotoxicity secondary to such compounds. Thecompounds of this invention may also be used in conjunction withhemodialysis.

[0223] The compounds of the invention can be administered orally orparenterally to various mammalian species known to be subject to suchmaladies, e.g., humans, in an effective amount within the dosage rangeof about 0.1 to about 100 mg/kg, preferably about 0.2 to about 50 mg/kgand more preferably about 0.5 to about 25 mg/kg (or from about 1 toabout 2500 mg, preferably from about 5 to about 2000 mg) in single or 2to 4 divided daily doses.

[0224] The active substance can be utilized in a composition such astablet, capsule, solution or suspension containing about 5 to about 500mg per unit dosage of a compound or mixture of compounds of formula I orin topical form for wound healing (0.01 to 5% by weight compound offormula I, 1 to 5 treatments per day). They may be compounded in aconventional manner with a physiologically acceptable vehicle orcarrier, excipient, binder, preservative, stabilizer, flavor, etc., orwith a topical carrier such as Plastibase (mineral oil gelled withpolyethylene) as called for by accepted pharmaceutical practice.

[0225] The compounds of the invention may also be administered topicallyto treat peripheral vascular diseases and as such may be formulated as acream or ointment.

[0226] The compounds of formula I can also be formulated in compositionssuch as sterile solutions or suspensions for parenteral administration.About 0.1 to 500 milligrams of a compound of formula I is compoundedwith a physiologically acceptable vehicle, carrier, excipient, binder,preservative, stabilizer, etc., in a unit dosage form as called for byaccepted pharmaceutical practice. The amount of active substance inthese compositions or preparations is such that a suitable dosage in therange indicated is obtained.

[0227] The present invention will now be further described by thefollowing working examples, which illustrate preferred embodiments ofthe invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Pinacol Ester Compound II

[0228] A. N-(4,5-Dimethylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-bromobenzenesulfonamide.

[0229] A 500 mL flask was charged with 2-bromobenzene sulfonyl chloride(153.3 g) and dimethylaminopyridine (7.37 g, 0.1 equiv), purged withargon and cooled in an ice-brine bath. Pyridine (300 mL) was added, andthe mixture stirred. A separate flask containing 3-amino-4,5-dimethylisoxazole, (73.95 g) in anhydrous pyridine³ (300 mL) under argon wascooled in an ice bath. When the internal temperature of thepyridine-bromobenzenesulfonyl chloride solution was ˜−3° C., theisoxazole-pyridine solution was added dropwise by cannula. The additionrequired ˜90 min. Quantitative transfer of the isoxazole was achievedwith a 10 mL pyridine rinse. Upon completion of addition, the ice wasremoved from the brine-ice bath, and the internal temperature of thereaction vessel warmed to approximately 8-10° C. over 1 h. The reactionvessel was then immersed in a preheated oil bath at 42° C. andmaintained at this temperature for 24.5 h. The warm solution wascannulated dropwise into ice cold 6N HCl (8 L) with vigorous stirringover approximately 90 min. Immediate precipitation occurred. The mixturewas stirred in the ice-water bath for approximately 1 h, and the yellowsolid collected by suction filtration on a medium porosity glass frit.The filter cake was washed with cold deionized water (4×0.5L), takingcare to mix the filter cake with each wash. The solid was air suctiondried for 24 h affording a yellow powder: 185.5 g, 93.4%, HPLC areapercent 97.7. The solid was dissolved in ethyl acetate (3.7 L or 20mL/g), charcoal (46.1 g, Darco KB, lot 1F-074) added, the mixture heatedbriefly to 58° C., cooled to RT and stirred for 12 h, filtered throughcelite, the celite pad rinsed with ethyl acetate (5×200 mL) andevaporated to dryness.

[0230] The solid was dissolved in ethyl acetate (˜500 mL), and stirredin an oil bath at ˜63-68° C. Warm hexanes (750 mL) were added (rapidlyat first, then dropwise after crystallization commenced).

[0231] Precipitation/crystallization began when ˜100 mL of hexanes hadbeen added. Upon completion of addition, the oil bath was removed andafter ˜2 h stirring was stopped. The mixture cooled to RT overnight (13h) then at ˜5° C. for 32 h, collected and washed with ice cold 1:2 ethylacetate:hexanes (˜100 mL). After drying for 15 h the white solid weighed160.3 g, 81% overall yield, HPLC AP⁷ 99.5, mp 143-145 degrees. Theinfra-red and ¹H NMR spectra were consistent with the assignedstructure. Mass spectrum: m/e 331 (MH⁺); Elemental Analysis: forC₁₁H₁₁BrN₂O₃S: C; Calc. 39.89, Found: 39.86; H; Calc. 3.35, Found: 3.28;N; Calc. 8.46, Found: 8.47.

[0232] B.1-Bromo-N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamide

[0233] A dry 1 L round bottom flask was charged with BMS-224339 (26.5 g,80 mmol), celite (52.8 g), dichloromethane (400 mL), dimethoxymethane(56 mL) and P4O₁₀ (10 g). The mixture was immersed in a pre-heated oilbath at 38° C. and stirred for 13 h. HPLC analysis of an aliquotindicated the reaction was complete. The mixture was filtered through apad of celite, and the celite pad washed with dichloromethane (4×200mL). The filtrate was stirred vigorously with 0.5N NaOH (400 mL) for onehour. The layers were separated, the aqueous phase extracted withdichloromethane (2×100 mL), and the combined organics dried over sodiumsulfate, filtered and concentrated to a waxy solid. The solid wasdissolved in anhydrous ether (260 mL), cooled in an ice bath, seeded andheptane (540 mL) added dropwise with stirring for 2 h and allowed tostand in a cold room at ˜5° C. for 2 days. The solid was collected,rinsed with cold heptane (40 mL) and air suction dried for 10 haffording 24.5 g of1-Bromo-N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamide,81.7%, AP 99.9+% as a white solid, mp 71-72° C. Concentration of themother liquor to dryness and crystallization of the residue (5.02 g)from ether/heptane as above afforded a second crop of1-Bromo-N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamide,3.72 g, AP 99.9, 12.4%, mp 71-72° C. The ¹H NMR and mass spectra wereconsistent with the assigned structure.

[0234] C.[2-[[(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)(methoxymethyl)amino]sulfonyl]phenyl]boronicAcid

[0235] A 1 liter, 3-necked flask equipped with an overhead mechanicalstirrer, addition funnel and thermocouple probe was charged with thearyl bromide described above (30.0 g, 80.2 mmol) and the flask wassparged with a slow stream of argon for 0.5 h. THF (400 mL) was addedvia cannula and the resulting solution was slowly cooled to an internaltemperature of −100° C. n-BuLi (40.1 mL, 84.2 mmol) was added dropwisevia an addition funnel over ˜20 minutes with vigorous stirring, whilemaintaining the internal temperature between −99°C. and −101° C. Thereaction mixture turned pale yellow, yellow and eventually orange. Afterthe addition of n-BuLi was complete, the addition funnel was rinsed withTHF (5 mL). The reaction was maintained at −100° C. for 20 minutesfollowing which a solution of trimethylborate (18.2 mL, 160.4 mmol) inTHF (136 mL) was added in a slow, steady stream via an addition funnelover 15 minutes. The internal temperature was maintained between −98° C.and −101° C. during the addition of the borate/THF solution. Thereaction mixture turned light orange, yellow, and eventually paleyellow. The resultant solution was stirred at ˜−100° C. for 1 h,following which it was warmed to ˜−78° C. A solution of 3N HCl (158 mL)was added in a slow stream with vigorous stirring during which thereaction mixture exothermed to −35° C. The reaction mixture was warmedto 0° C. and stirred for 0.5 h. The reaction mixture (pH 0.1) wasbasified with 4N NaOH (130 mL) to pH ˜12.2. The resulting solution wasextracted with MTBE/hexanes (1:1, 2×300 mL), and the organic phase waswashed with 0.5N NaOH (4×100 mL). The aqueous layers were pooled andwashed with MTBE/hexanes (1/1, 2×300 mL). The aqueous layer (pH ˜13.1)was acidified with 6.0N HCl (˜85 mL) to a pH of ˜1.0. The acidifiedsolution was extracted with MTBE (4×300 mL). The organic layers werepooled, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford2-[[(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)(methoxymethyl)amino]sulfonyl]phenyl]boronic acid as a pale yellow oil which solidifiedupon storing at 0-5° C. overnight. (25.4 g, 93%, HPLC area percent93.1%). The ¹H NMR and mass spectra were consistent with the assignedstructure.

[0236] D.N-[methoxymethyl]-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide.

[0237] A 1-liter round bottomed flask equipped with magnetic stir bar,Dean-Stark trap and condenser was charged with the boronic acid asdescribed above (25.0 g, 73.5 mmol), pinacol (9.1 g, 77.1 mmol), andtoluene (1500 mL) and placed under an atmosphere of argon. The mixturewas heated to vigorous reflux and water was collected in the Dean Starktrap over ˜20 minutes. The mixture was heated at reflux for a total of1.5 hours. Toluene (˜75 mL) was then distilled off and the reactionmixture subsequently concentrated on a rotary evaporator forapproximately 16 h to affordN-[methoxymethyl]-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzenesulfonamideas a viscous, colorless oil (31.9 g, 103%, HPLC AP 97%). The ¹H NMR andmass spectra were consistent with the assigned structure.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Halophenyl Compound III

[0238] A. 4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoic Acid

[0239] A 3 L 3-necked flask equipped with reflux condenser was chargedwith 3-methyl-4-bromo-benzoic acid (50 g), N-bromosuccinimide (41.4 g, 1equiv), azobisisobutyronitrile (0.5 g) and triflourotoluene (750 mL).The headspace was purged with argon for 10 min. The flask was placed ina preheated oil bath at 110° C., and stirred. Additional solid NBS (41.4g, 1 equiv) and AIBN (250 mg) were added after 3-4 h. Additional solidNBS (41.4 g, 1 equiv) and AIBN (250 mg) after another 3-4 h. AIBN wasadded periodically (250 mg) every 3-4 h with heating and stirring underreflux. for 12-24 h until the side chainmonobromide:dibromide ratio is˜7:93 or better as judged by analytical HPLC. The mixture was cooled toRT with stirring, 250 mL heptane was added dropwise, and the mixturethen stirred in ice-salt bath 2 h. The solid was collected and washedtwice with cold heptane. The solid was air suction dried ˜1 h. The solidwas washed with warm (˜70° C.) water (3×500 mL), stirring the filtercake each time. The solid was air suction dried 12 h. The weight of4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoic acid was 72.5 g, 84%; HPLC and ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) give 96 area percent of sidechain dibromide, ˜4 area percentmonobromide.

[0240] The solid was dissolved in 1200 mL of hot n-butyl acetate, andfiltered through a small pad of celite. The celite pad was rinsed with100 mL of hot butyl acetate, the volume adjusted to 325 mL, and themixture reheated to reflux to obtain a solution. Upon cooling to roomtemperature, crystals formed. The mixture was stirred, and heptane (650mL) added at RT and then in an ice bath. The solid was collected andwashed with ice cold heptane, and dried, affording the product4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoic acid in ˜70% yield. The ¹H NMR and massspectra were consistent with the assigned structure. The sidechainmonobromide was typically present in<5%.

[0241] B. 4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoyl Chloride

[0242] A 250 mL round bottom flask was charged with the4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoic acid prepared as described above (114.6g, 307 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (1.14 L) and anhydrous DMF (6.3 mL).The resulting suspension was stirred at RT under an argon atmosphere.Oxalyl chloride (29.5 mL, 338 mmol) was added dropwise. The reactionmixture became a clear yellow solution at the end of the reaction. HPLCindicated the reaction was complete in 2 hours. The solution wasdecanted away from a gummy oil deposited at the bottom of the reactionflask and the solution was concentrated on a rotary evaporator and thenon a high vacuum pump overnight to dryness. The4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoyl chloride was obtained as a light brownsolid 115.02 g, 95.7% yield and area percent=93.5%. The ¹H NMR spectrumwas consistent with the assigned structure.

[0243] C. 2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]oxazole

[0244] A vessel was charged with 488,4 ml of Sulfolane. 24.0

[0245] g of NaH (60% suspension in mineral oil) was added under an inertgas blanket. The suspension was agitated and heated to 50° C. In aseparate vessel, 40,7 g of 1.2.3-Triazole were dissolved in 244,2 mlSulfolane. The solution of 1.2.3-triazole was slowly added to the NaHsuspension. Efficient agitation is essential. Evolution of hydrogen wasobserved. If hydrogen evolution gets too violent, addition has to beinterrupted. After additon was complete agitation was continued at 50°C. for 1.5 hours. The 1.2.3 triazole-sodium suspension was cooled to 30°C.

[0246] The acid chloride prepared as described above was dissolved in600 ml of Sulfolane. When all acid chloride was dissolved temperaturewas increased to 90-95° C. At this temperature the Na-triazole solutionwas slowly added. During addition the temperature was maintained at95-100° C. The reaction was slightly exothermic. During addition slightgas evolution of nitrogen is observed. The additon required 60-90minutes. When addition was complete, agitation was continued at 95-100°C. for 30 min. The mixture was cooled to 10° C., added slowly to an icecold solution of 66.7 g of potassium carbonate in 2000 mL of water,maintaining the temperature below 10° C. After the potassium carbonateaddition was complete, 660 mL of water were added and the mixtureagitated for 30 min at 10° C. The crystals were isolated and dried bysuction and washed with water. The cake was washed with 45° C. warmwater to remove residual sulfolane. The yield of2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]oxazole is 133.3 g.

[0247] 133,3 g of 2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]oxazole weredissolved in 666.7 mL of MeoH at reflux temperature, 20,0 g of charcoalwere added and reflux was continued for 5 min. The charcoal was filteredoff at reflux temperature using a pad of hyflo filter aid. The cake waswashed with 66.8 mL of hot MeOH. The solution was slowly cooled toambient temperature. Crystallisation started at about 35° C. The mixturewas agitated for one hour at ambient temperature then the temperaturewas lowered to 5° C. slowly and agitation continued for 1 hour.

[0248] 66.7 mL of water were added slowly and the mixture agitated foran additional hour. The crystals were collected by suction filtrationand dried to constant weight in vacuo. The yield of2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]oxazole was 120 g. The ¹H NMR andmass spectra were consistent with the assigned structure.

[0249] D. 2-[4-Bromo-3-(formyl)phenyl]oxazole

[0250] A 1000 mL round bottom flask was charged with the oxazole asdescribed above (30 g, 75.8 mmol) in morpholine (67 mL, 757.6 mmol) anddistilled water (17 mL). The resulting yellow solution was stirred underan argon atmosphere and was heated to 75° C. external temperature. Somesolid precipitated out of the solution immediately and then slowlypartially melted, resulting in a heterogeneous mixture. The reaction wasmonitored by HPLC and was complete in 2 hours. The reaction mixture wascooled to RT. Then HCl (1N, 760 mL) was added slowly and portionwise.The mixture was stirred at RT for 1 hour and in an ice bath for 2 hours.The solid was filtered, washed with H₂O (1×100 mL) and hot H₂O (3×100mL). It was suction dried overnight to give 18.0 g of yellow solid,94.1% yield and AP=99.6 (CPR-NB). The crude solid was combined with aprevious batch (˜1.8 g) and was dissolved in refluxing cyclohexane (470mL). The hot solution was filtered to remove a small amount of insolublesolid. The filtration funnel was rinsed with hot cyclohexane (3×100 mL).The combined hot cyclohexane solution was stirred, cooled to RT andseeded. Crystallization occurred within 10 minutes. It was stirred at RTfor 4-5 hours, stored in the cold room at 4° C. overnight and collectedto give an off-white crystalline product. The solid was suction dried toafford 2-[4-Bromo-3-(formyl)phenyl]oxazole, 19.2 g, 91-2% yield and HPLCarea percent 98.5. mp 100-104° C. The

[0251]¹H NMR and mass spectra were consistent with the assignedstructures. Elemental analysis for C₁₀H₆BrNO₂*0.1H₂O*0.1 C₆H₁₂.

[0252] C: Calc: 48.54, Found: 48.95; H: Calc: 2.84, Found: 2.94;

[0253] N: Calc: 5.34, Found: 5.29. KF (H₂O) Calc: 0.69,

[0254] Found:0.63.

EXAMPLE 2A Alternate Synthesis of Example 2D

[0255]

[0256] A 1 L round bottom flask was charged with potassium hydrogencarbonate (13.3 g, 132.3 mmol), water (220 mL) and acetone (150 mL). Theresulting mixture was cooled to −10° C. to 0° C. in an ice/acetone bath.Aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal (14.5 mL, 133.1 mmol) was added and themixture was stirred at −10° C. to 0° C. for 15 minutes.4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)benzoyl chloride (50.0 g, 127.8 mmol) inacetone (200 mL) was added dropwise in 0.5 hours under argon. During thecourse of the addition, the reaction mixture was seeded when cloudinessoccurred. The resulting milk like suspension was stirred at 0° C. for2.5 h. The solvent acetone was removed on a rotary evaporator. The solidwas collected by filtration and was washed with water (50 mL×2). It wassuction dried for 13 hours and vacuum oven dried for 6 hours at 60° C.to give the carboxamide aa a yellowish solid in 95.6% yield, HPLC areapercent. The ¹H NMR and mass spectra were consistent with the assignedstructure.

[0257] B. 2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]-5-methoxy-oxazoline

[0258] A 500 mL round bottom flask was charged with the amido acetal(30.3 g, 67.3 mmol), anhydrous toluene (200 mL) anddiisopropylethylamine (47 mL, 269.8 mmol). The mixture was cooled to−10° C. to 0° C. in an ice/acetone bath under argon. Trifluoroboronetherate (33 mL) was added dropwise in 0.5 hours. A suspension wasobtained. The suspension was warmed up to RT and stirred at RT for 1hour. The suspension was heated at 60° C. for 3.5 hours. TLC indicatedthat the starting material was consumed. The mixture was cooled to RTand poured onto saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (1.2 L). Thesodium bicarbonate mixture was stirred at RT for 0.5 hours (pH=9) andwas filtered through a celite pad. The pad was rinsed with toluene (200mL×3). Each rinsing was used to extract the aqueous phase. The toluenelayers were combined and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonatesolution (250 mL), water (250 mL x2) and brine (250 mL x2). It was driedover MgSO₄ (50 g) and charcoal (9 g) for 1 hour at RT. After filtrationand concentration, 27.8 g of2-[4-Bromo-3-(dibromomethyl)-phenyl]-5-methoxy-oxazoline as a yellowishsolid, which was used for the next reaction without furtherpurification.

[0259] C. 2-[4-Bromo-3-(formyl)-phenyl]oxazole

[0260] A 1 L round bottom flask was charged with BMS-240682-01 (27.8 g,67.1 mmol), DBU (24.1 mL, 161.2 mmol) and morpholine (56.4 mL, 646.7mmol). The mixture was heated at 60° C. for 2.5 hours. HPLC indicatedthe starting material hjad disappeared. The reaction mixture was cooledto −10° C. to 0° C. in an ice/acetone bath. The stirring stopped.Potassium tert-butoxide (1 M in THF, 350 mL) was added dropwise in 0.5hours. The stirring started after ˜20 mL of potassium tert-butoxide THFsolution was added. The reaction mixture was warmed up to RT and stirredat RT for 5 hours. It was put aside in a −40° C. freezer for 13 hoursand then was stirred at RT for another 2 hours. The reaction mixture wascooled to −10° C. to 0° C. in an ice/acetone bath. HCl (6N, cold, 214mL) was added dropwise in 15 minutes. The mixture was stirred at 0° C.to RT in 0.5 hours. It was transferred to a 2 L separatory funnel,diluted with EtOAc (300 mL) and water (300 mL). The aqueous layer wasseparated and extracted with EtOAc (300 mL×2). The organic layers werecombined and the combined organic phase was washed with brine/1N HClmixture (200 mL/30 mL), brine/water mixture (200 mL/30 mL×2) and brine(230 mL×2). It was dried over MgSO₄ (50 g) for 0.5 hours andconcentrated to 21.3 g of semi solid. The crude semi solid was dissolvedin warm THF (60 mL). The THF solution was added dropwise to a mixture ofrefluxing cyclohexane (600 mL) and charcoal (3.6 g). The mixture wasstirred without heat for 0.5 hours and was heated to reflux. It wasfiltered through a celite pad and the pad was washed with a hot mixtureof cyclohexane/THF (90 mL/9 mL×3). The filtrate was concentrated to 14.1g of yellowish white solid. The charcoal treated crude product wasdissolved in cyclohexane (300 mL) at reflux. Crystallization occurredupon cooling to RT. The mixture was stirred at RT for 4 hours and thenat 4° C. for 13 hours. The 2-[4-Bromo-3-(formyl)-phenyl]oxazole wascollected by filtration and was suction dried at RT for 13 h. It wasobtained as an off-white solid in 72.3% yield, HPLC area percent 99.8.The ¹H NMR and mass spectra were consistent with the assigned structure.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Compound of Formula I

[0261] A.N-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-4′-oxazol-2-yl[1,1′-biphenyl]sulfonamide

[0262] A 3-liter, 3-necked flask equipped with dropping funnel,condenser, overhead mechanical stirrer, and thermocouple was chargedwith Pd(OAc)₂ (0.56 g, 2.5 mmol), and Ph₃P (1.76 g, 6.7 mmol). The flaskwas purged with a slow bleed of Argon gas overnight. Toluene (125 mL)was added via syringe. The resulting pale yellow solution was stirredand heated at 73° C. to 75° C. in an oil bath for approximately 1 h 10min. The color of the solution gradually changed from pale yellow todark yellow to dark orange red and eventually, blood-red. The solutionwas was cooled to ˜28° C.

[0263] A solution consisting of the pinacol boronate ester (11.6 g, 27.5mmol) in toluene; 2-[4-Bromo-3-(formylphenyl)oxazole (12.6 g 50.0 mmol),ethanol (337.5 mL), and toluene (325 mL) was added via cannula. Athoroughly degassed solution of 2.0M Na₂CO₃ in water (150 mL) was addedvia cannula. The resultant mixture was stirred and the solution washeated to an internal temperature of approximately 72° C. to 74° C. Theremaining pinacol boronate ester (11.6 g, 27.5 mmol) in toluene wasadded portionwise at intervals of ˜20 minutes (˜5.5 mmol of pinacolboronate, 7.9 mL every 20 minutes) for a total addition time of 2 h. Themixture was cooled to room temperature and combined with another smallbatch of crude product (prepared in an identical manner from 2.5 g of2-[4-Bromo-3-(formylphenyl)oxazole). The layers were separated in aseparatory funnel. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (4×120mL). The organic extracts were combined, dried over MgSO₄ and filteredthrough a Teflon filter (pore size: 0.45 micron). The filtrate wasconcentrated to afford a reddish-brown oil (41.4 g).

[0264] The oil was dissolved in EtOAc (300 mL) and trithiocyanuric acid(TMT, 5.6 g, 31.6 mmol) was added. The mixture was heated at ˜55° C. for0.5 h, then charcoal¹⁶ (27 g) was added. The resulting suspension wasstirred for ˜0.5 h at ˜55° C. The suspension was cooled to 5° C. andmaintained at that temperature for 15 minutes, then filtered through a3″ pad of celite. The celite pad was washed with EtOAc (3×200 mL). Thefiltrate was washed with 0.5N NaOH (4×150 mL) in a separatory funnel.The organic layer was then washed with brine (1×150 mL), dried overanhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a yellow oil (35.1g). The oil was dissolved in EtOAc (300 mL) and TMT (5.6 g, 31.6 mmol)was added. The mixture was heated at ˜55° C. for 0.5 h, then charcoal(27 g) was added. The resulting suspension was stirred for ˜0.5 h at˜55° C. The suspension was cooled to 5° C. and maintained at thattemperature for 15 minutes, then filtered through a 3″ pad of celite.The celite pad was washed with EtOAc (3×200 mL). The filtrate was washedwith 0.5N NaOH (4×150 mL) in a separatory funnel. The organic layer wasthen washed with brine (1×150 mL), dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filteredand concentrated to give crudeN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-4′-oxazol-2-yl[1,1′-biphenyl]sulfonamideas very pale yellow oil (30.8 g, 110%, HPLC area percent 85%).

[0265] B.N-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide.

[0266] The unpurified biphenyl compound obtained as described above(30.4 g) was taken in a 2-liter round-bottom flask equipped with acondenser and dissolved in warm ethanol (300 mL). 6N aqueous HCl (300mL) was added under an argon atmosphere. The solution was warmed and theinternal temperature was maintained between 78° C. and 81° C. Theprogress of reaction was monitored by HPLC. After 2 h 45 min thereaction was judged complete by HPLC. A large quantity of the producthad precipitated. The reaction mixture was cooled to ˜74° C. Distilledwater (207 mL) was added in a slow steady stream over 0.5 h during whichtime the internal temperature was maintained between 68 to 70° C. Theresulting suspension was cooled to RT over 45 min following which theflask was cooled in an ice bath for 2 h with vigorous mechanicalstirring. The crude product was collected by filtration on a sinteredglass funnel, washed with a mixture of ethanol/water, and dried underhouse vacuum for 48 h, affording the crudeN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamideproduct, 19.9 g, HPLC area percent 98%.

[0267] The crude solid (19.5 g) was suspended in distilled water (103mL) and the suspension was cooled to ˜10° C. 1N NaOH (92 mL) was addeddropwise with vigorous mechanical stirring. The first formed milkyemulsion became clear within 5-7 minutes. MTBE (60 mL) was added and thebiphasic solution was stirred for 5 min. The layers were separated andthe aqueous layer was diluted with ethanol (58 mL). The aqueous layerwas acidified by the dropwise addition of 1N HCl (138 mL) over 45 min.The internal temperature was maintained between 18° C. to 22° C. duringacidification. A white precipitate resulted and the resulting suspensionwas stirred at ˜20° C. for 1 h. The product was collected by suctionfiltration and the filter cake washed with distilled water (80 mL). Thiswas allowed to dry under house vacuum for 24 h, then in a vacuum oven(35° C.) for 16 h.

[0268] The crude product was suspended in acetonitrile (360 mL) at RT,then warmed to ˜70° C. until a clear yellow solution was obtained. Hotdistilled water (180 mL, ˜75° C.) was added to the solution over 20minutes with vigorous stirring. The product began to crystallize. Theinternal temperature was maintained at ˜64° C.-67° C. with externalheating. The resulting suspension was cooled to RT and stirred for 1 h,then placed in an ice-water bath for 8 h. The product was collected byvacuum filtration on a sintered glass funnel. The product was washedwith an ice-cold solution of acetonitrile/water (1:1, 38 mL) and driedunder house vacuum for 0.5 h, then in a vacuum oven at 30-35° C.overnight affording the productN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide,17.7 g, HPLC area percent 96.9%. The H NMR and mass spectra wereconsistent with the assigned structure.

[0269] C.N-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-[(methylamino)methyl]-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide,Monohydrochloride.

[0270] A 2 L three necked round bottom flask was charged withN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide(15.0 g, 35.5 mmol). The reaction vessel was equipped with a mechanicalstirrer, an argon line and a digital thermometer probe. Ethanol (195 mL)was added followed by glacial acetic acid (5.3 mL) and methylamine inethanol (8.03 M, 15.6 mL). The resulting clear solution was stirred atroom temperature. A thick white precipitate formed within 10 min. Thesuspension was stirred vigorously for 1 h following which sodiumtriacetoxyborohydride powder (22.6 g, 106 mmol) was added in one portionover 5 min. The inside walls of the flask were washed with ethanol (30mL). A homogenous solution resulted within 15 min. The reaction mixturewas stirred at RT for ˜2 h, the reaction mixture was transferred to a 1Lflask and concentrated on a rotary evaporator. To the resulting thickslurry, 3N HCl (150 mL) was added dropwise over 10 min with rapidagitation. The suspension dissolved to give a clear pale yellowsolution. Within minutes, a thick white precipitate formed. Thesuspension was stirred at RT for 1 h, then at 0-5° C. for 2.5 h. Theflask was stored at 0-5° C. overnight. The suspension was stirred at0-5° C. for ˜30 min and the precipitate collected by suction filtrationon a sintered glass funnel. The crude product was washed with cold water(20 mL) and dried under house vacuum for ˜24 h.

[0271] The white solid (HPLC AP 97.6%) was dissolved in methanol (185mL) at 50° C.-55° C. Charcoal (2.6 g) was added to the resultingsolution and the suspension was stirred at 50° C.-55° C. for 1 h. Thesuspension was filtered through a pad of celite and the celite pad waswashed with hot methanol (100 mL). The filtrate was concentrated to ˜120mL at which time some product had begun to precipitate. The residualsuspension was heated to reflux to give a clear solution, and thencooled to RT with stirring over 1.5 h. The product began to crystallize.The suspension was stirred in an ice/water bath for 1.5 h, and stored at0-5° C. for 16 h. The suspension was stirred at −24° C. to −27° C. for 3h and the product collected by suction filtration on a sintered glassfunnel. The product was washed with methanol (at ˜−25° C.) and driedunder house vacuum to give the product as the hydrochloride salt:N-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-[(methylamino)methyl]-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide,monohydrochloride (14.4 g, 85% crystallized yield fromN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide,HPLC area percent 98.8%. The ¹H NMR and mass spectra were consistentwith the assigned structure.

[0272] D.N-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamide

[0273] A 1-liter round-bottom flask was charged with the aminehydrochloride salt prepared as described above (14.2 g, 29.9 mmol). Theflask was equipped with a Claisen head and mechanical stirrer. THF (220mL), H₂O (248 mL) and 1N NaOH (142 mL) were added to the flask. Theresulting suspension was stirred at RT until a clear, very pale, yellowhomogenous solution was obtained. The reaction mixture was cooled toapproximately −5° C. t-Butyl acetyl chloride (4.9 g, 5.1 mL, 35.9 mmol)was added dropwise via an addition funnel over 20 minutes, with vigorousstirring. The reaction mixture was stirred for a total of 1 h. Thereaction mixture was concentrated on a rotary evaporator; approximately195 mL of solvent was removed. The concentrated solution was cooled to0° C., then acidified by the dropwise addition of 1N HCl (156 mL) over10 minutes. A white precipitate resulted immediately. 6N HCl (10 mL) wasthen added to the suspension which was then stirred at 0-5° C. for 1.5h. The crude product was collected by suction filtration through asintered glass funnel. The solid was washed with cold water (250 mL) andallowed to dry under house vacuum to give the crude product carboxamide(17.4 g, 107%, HPLC area percent 99%).

[0274] The crude solid (16.73 g) was heated in isopropanol (250 mL) at60° C. and filtered at 50° C. through a small bed of celite on a mediumporosity glass frit. The celite was washed with isopropanol (50 mL×2)and the solvent removed on a rotary evaporator. The residue wasdissolved in warm isopropanol (225 mL) and stirred in a an oil bath withinternal temperature at ˜58-60° C. and warm water (338 mL) was addeddropwise maintaining the internal temperature at ˜58-60° C. The solutionwas seeded at ˜58° C., and slowly allowed to cool to RT with stirringover approximately 7 h, allowed to stand at RT overnight and then at 5°C. for 24 h. The solid was collected and rinsed with ice cold 1:1.5isopropanol:water (30 mL) and air suction dried for 24 h affording 14.87g, 92% of the product,N-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamideas the monohydrate, HPLC area percent 98.6, mp 116-118° C. The ¹H NMR,infrared spectrum and mass spectrum were consistent with the assignedstructure. Karl Fischer analysis indicated 3.4% water by weight,indicating a monohydrate. A crystalline anhydrate is obtained bycrystallization from an isopropanol/water solvent mixture under similarconditions, mp 156-158° C. A second, different anhydrate is obtainedfrom ethyl acetate/hexanes, mp 166-168° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the preparation of a biphenylsulfonamide of the following formula I

where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independently beunsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups,enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts thereof, wherein one of X and Yis N and the other is O; R³ and R⁴ are each directly bonded to a ringcarbon and are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, any of which maybe substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c) halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano;(f) nitro; (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (h) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷;(j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴ together may also be alkyleneor alkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ringtogether with the carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁵ is alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may be substituted withZ¹, Z² and Z³; R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently (a)hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl,aryl or aralkyl, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; orR⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturatedor unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atom to which they areattached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ together are alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the atoms to which they are attached; Z¹, Z² and Z³ are eachindependently (a) hydrogen; (b) halo; (c) hydroxy; (d) alkyl; (e)alkenyl; (f) aryl; (g) aralkyl; (h) alkoxy; (i) aryloxy; (j) aralkoxy;(k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (l) —SH,—S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)OHor —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶; (m) OXO; (n) nitro; (o) cyano; (p) —C(O)H or—C(O)Z⁶; (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶; (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸; (s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H;(t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸; Z⁴ and Z⁵ are eachindependently (a) a single bond; (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-; (c)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-;(d)-Z⁹-C(S)-Z¹⁰-; (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-; (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-; (g)-Z⁹-O—C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or(h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-; Z⁶ is alkyl; alkyl substituted with one to threegroups selected from halogen, aryl, aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl;alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl substituted with one to three groupsselected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to whichis fused a benzene ring; aryloxy substituted with one or two halogens;cycloalkylalkyl; cycloalkenyl; cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substitutedwith methylenedioxy or one to four groups selected from alkyl,dialkylamino, cyano, halogen, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; orheterocycle or substituted heterocycle; Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independentlyhydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl oraralkyl, or Z⁷ and Z⁸ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with thenitrogen atom to which they are attached; Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are eachindependently a single bond, alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; Z¹¹ is(a) hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or threehalogens, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl oraralkyl; or any two of Z⁷, Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene oralkenylene, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ringtogether with the atoms to which they are attached; each m isindependently 1 or 2; and each n is independently 0, 1 or 2; comprisingthe steps of (a) contacting a pinacol ester of the formula II or saltthereof

 where the phenyl ring of said formula II may be further substituted,and where “prot” denotes an alkoxymethyl nitrogen-protecting group, witha compound of the formula III or salt thereof

 where R¹⁶ is halogen or a group —O-Q where Q is —SO₂CF₃, —SO₂CH₃ or

 and where the phenyl ring of said formula III may be furthersubstituted, in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, optionally,a base, to form a compound of the formula IV or salt thereof

 where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independently beunsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups; and(b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula IV or saltthereof to form said compound of the formula I or salt thereof.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, for the preparation of a compound of the followingformula Ia

and enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts thereof, wherein R¹ and R²are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independentlyselected from those groups (a) through (j) recited in claim 1 for R³ andR⁴; R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b)alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, (c) heterocycle,substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (d) halo; (e) hydroxyl; (f)cyano; (g) nitro; (h) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (i) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (j) —SH,—S(O)_(n)R⁵, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)OHor —O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵; (k)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; or (l)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; J is O, S,N or NR¹⁵; K and L are N or C, provided that at least one of K or L isC; R¹⁵ is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyethoxy methyl or methoxyethoxy methyl;and p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2; comprising the steps of: (a)contacting a pinacol ester of the formula IIa or salt thereof

 with a compound of the formula IIIa or salt thereof

in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, optionally, a base, toform a compound of the formula IVa or salt thereof

(b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said formula IVa compound or saltthereof to form said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein said palladium(0) catalyst is a palladium(II) salt and triphenylphosphine.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein saidpalladium (II) salt is palladium acetate.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein said base is aqueous potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. 6.The method of claim 2, wherein “prot” is methoxymethyl.
 7. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the halo group in said compound of the formula IIIa orsalt thereof is bromo, chloro, or iodo.
 8. The method of claim 2,wherein said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof is crystallizedfrom solution subsequent to step (b).
 9. The method of claim 2, whereinresidual palladium is removed subsequent to step (a) by use of achelating agent.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein said compound of theformula IIa or salt thereof isN-[methoxymethyl]-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzenesulfanamide,and said compound of the formula IIIa or salt thereof is2-[4-Bromo-3-(formyl)phenyl]oxazole.
 11. A compound of the formula II orsalt thereof

where the phenyl ring of said formula II may be further substituted, andwhere “prot” denotes an alkoxymethyl nitrogen-protecting group, andwherein one of X and Y is N and the other is 0; R³ and R⁴ are eachdirectly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a)hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkylor aralkoxy, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c)halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano; (f) nitro; (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (h)—CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; (j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴together may also be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated,unsaturated or aromatic ring together with the carbon atoms to whichthey are attached; R⁵ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰are each independently (a) hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; or R⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the nitrogen atom to which they are attached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹and R¹⁰ together are alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturatedor unsaturated ring together with the atoms to which they are attached;Z¹, Z² and Z³ are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) halo; (c)hydroxy; (d) alkyl; (e) alkenyl; (f) aryl; (g) aralkyl; (h) alkoxy; (i)aryloxy; (j) aralkoxy; (k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle orheterocyclooxy; (l) —SH, —S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶,—O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶; (m) oxo; (n) nitro;(o) cyano; (p) —C(O)H or —C(O)Z⁶; (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶; (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸;(s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H; (t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸; Z⁴and Z⁵ are each independently (a) a single bond; (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-;(c)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-; (d)-Z⁹-C(S)-Z¹⁰-; (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-; (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-;(g)-Z⁹-O—C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or (h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-; Z⁶ is alkyl; alkylsubstituted with one to three groups selected from halogen, aryl,aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl; alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl substitutedwith one to three groups selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl andalkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to which is fused a benzene ring; aryloxysubstituted with one or two halogens; cycloalkylalkyl; cycloalkenyl;cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substituted with methylenedioxy or one tofour groups selected from alkyl, dialkylamino, cyano, halogen,trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; or heterocycle or substitutedheterocycle; Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or Z⁷and Z⁸ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atomto which they are attached; Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are each independently a singlebond, alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; Z¹¹ is (a) hydrogen; or (b)alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or three halogens, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or any two of Z⁷,Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene; or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the atoms towhich they are attached; each m is independently 1 or 2; and each n isindependently 0, 1 or
 2. 12. A compound of claim 11 of the formula IIaor salt thereof

wherein “prot” is methoxymethyl; R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently (a)hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkylor aralkoxy, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, (c)heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (d) halo; (e)hydroxyl; (f) cyano; (g) nitro; (h) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (i) —CO₂H or—CO₂R⁵; (j) —SH, —S(O)_(n)R⁵, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OR⁵,—O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—OS(O)_(m)—OR⁵; (k)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; or(l)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹.
 13. The compound of claim 12, which isN-[methoxymethyl]-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide.14. A method for the preparation of a pinacol ester of the formula II orsalt thereof

where the phenyl ring of said formula II may be further substituted,where “prot” denotes an alkoxymethyl nitrogen-protecting group, andwherein one of X and Y is N and the other is 0; R³ and R⁴ are eachdirectly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a)hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkylor aralkoxy, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c)halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano; (f) nitro; (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (h)—CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; (j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴together may also be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated,unsaturated or aromatic ring together with the carbon atoms to whichthey are attached; R⁵ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰are each independently (a) hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; or R⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the nitrogen atom to which they are attached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹and R¹⁰ together are alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturatedor unsaturated ring together with the atoms to which they are attached;Z¹, Z² and Z³ are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) halo; (c)hydroxy; (d) alkyl; (e) alkenyl; (f) aryl; (g) aralkyl; (h) alkoxy; (i)aryloxy; (j) aralkoxy; (k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle orheterocyclooxy; (l) —SH, —S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶,—O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶; (m) oxo; (n) nitro;(o) cyano; (p) —C(O)H or —C(O)Z⁶; (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶; (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸;(s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H; (t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸; Z⁴and Z⁵ are each independently (a) a single bond; (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-;(c)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-; (d)-Z⁹-C(s)-Z¹⁰-; (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-; (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-;(g)-Z⁹-O—C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or (h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-; Z⁶ is alkyl; alkylsubstituted with one to three groups selected from halogen, aryl,aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl; alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl substitutedwith one to three groups selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl andalkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to which is fused a benzene ring; aryloxysubstituted with one or two halogens; cycloalkylalkyl; cycloalkenyl;cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substituted with methylenedioxy or one tofour groups selected from alkyl, dialkylamino, cyano, halogen,trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; or heterocycle or substitutedheterocycle; Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or Z⁷and Z⁸ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atomto which they are attached; Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are each independently a singlebond, alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; Z¹¹ is (a) hydrogen; or (b)alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or three halogens, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or any two of Z⁷,Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the atoms towhich they are attached; each m is independently 1 or 2; and each n isindependently 0, 1 or 2; comprising the steps of (a) contacting acompound of the formula V or salt thereof

 where the phenyl group of said formula V may be further substituted,with an amine of the formula VI or salt thereof

in the presence of an organic base and optionally an organic solvent, toform a compound of the formula VII or salt thereof

 where the phenyl group of said formula VII may be further substituted;(b) protecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula VII or saltthereof by contacting the compound of formula VII with a compound offormula XX

 where R¹⁷ is alkoxy or halogen, and R¹⁸ is alkoxy, in the presence of aLewis or protic acid when R¹⁷ is alkoxy, or in the presence of a basewhen R¹⁷ is halo, to form a compound of the formula VIII or salt thereof

 where the phenyl group of said formula VIII may be further substituted;(c) lithiating said compound of the formula VIII or salt thereof with analkyl or aryl lithium compound and contacting the lithiated productformed with a trialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form a boronicacid of the formula IX or salt thereof

 where the phenyl group of said formula IX may be further substituted;and (d) contacting said compound of the formula IX or salt thereof withpinacol, with removal of water, thereby forming said compound of theformula II or salt thereof.
 15. The method of claim 14 for thepreparation of a pinacol ester of the formula IIa or salt thereof,

where R¹³ and R¹⁴ are as defined in claim 2, and “prot” ismethoxymethyl, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a compound of theformula Va or salt thereof

 with an amine of the formula VIa or salt thereof

in the presence of an organic base and optionally an organic solvent, toform a compound of the formula VIIa or salt thereof

(b) protecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula VIIa or saltthereof by contacting the compound of formula VII with a compound offormula XX

 where R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each methoxy, in the presence of a Lewis orprotic acid to form a compound of the formula VIII or salt thereof:toform a compound of the formula VIIIa or salt thereof

(c) lithiating said compound of the formula VIIIa or salt thereof withan alkyl or aryl lithium compound and contacting the lithiated productformed with a trialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form a boronicacid of the formula IXa or salt thereof

(d) contacting said compound of the formula IXa or salt thereof withpinacol, with removal of water, thereby forming said compound of theformula IIa or salt thereof.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein X is Nand Y is O.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the halo group of thecompound of the formula Va or salt thereof is bromo, chloro or iodo. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein said leaving group is halo.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein said leaving group is chloro.
 20. The methodof claim 15, wherein the organic base in step (a) is an amine.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein said organic base is pyridine or atrialkylamine.
 22. The method of claim 15, wherein said organic basealso functions as an organic solvent.
 23. The method of claim 15,wherein the alkyl or aryl lithium compound is n-butyl lithium or phenyllithium.
 24. The method of claim 15, wherein said lithiation and/orcontact with said trialkylborate is conducted at temperatures from about−40° C. to about −105° C.
 25. The method of claim 15, wherein saidtrialkylborate is triisopropylborate or trimethylborate.
 26. The methodof claim 15, wherein said removal of water is conducted by the additionof a drying agent, or by azeotropic removal of water by heating with asolvent.
 27. The method of claim 15, wherein said compound of theformula IIa or salt thereof isN-[methoxymethyl]-N-(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide,said compound of the formula Va or salt thereof is2-bromobenzenesulfonyl chloride, and said amine of the formula VIa orsalt thereof is 3-amino-4,5-dimethylisoxazole.
 28. A method for thepreparation of a compound of the formula I or salt thereof

where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independently beunsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups,enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts thereof, wherein one of X and Yis N and the other is 0; R³ and R⁴ are each directly bonded to a ringcarbon and are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, any of which maybe substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c) halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano;(f) nitro; (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (h) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷;(j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴ together may also be alkyleneor alkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ringtogether with the carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁵ is alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may be substituted withZ¹, Z² and Z³; R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently (a)hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl,aryl or aralkyl, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; orR⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturatedor unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atom to which they areattached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ together are alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the atoms to which they are attached; Z¹, Z² and Z³ are eachindependently (a) hydrogen; (b) halo; (c) hydroxy; (d) alkyl; (e)alkenyl; (f) aryl; (g) aralkyl; (h) alkoxy; (i) aryloxy; (j) aralkoxy;(k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (l) —SH,—S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶, O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)OHor —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶; (m) oxo; (n) nitro; (o) cyano; (p) —C(O)H or—C(O)Z⁶; (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶; (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸; (s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H;(t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸; Z⁴ and Z⁵ are eachindependently (a) a single bond; (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-; (c)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-;(d)-Z⁹-C(s)-Z¹⁰-; (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-; (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-; (g)-Z⁹-O—C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or(h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-; Z⁶ is alkyl; alkyl substituted with one to threegroups selected from halogen, aryl, aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl;alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl substituted with one to three groupsselected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to whichis fused a benzene ring; aryloxy substituted with one or two halogens;cycloalkylalkyl; cycloalkenyl; cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substitutedwith methylenedioxy or one to four groups selected from alkyl,dialkylamino, cyano, halogen, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; orheterocycle or substituted heterocycle; Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independentlyhydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl oraralkyl, or Z⁷ and Z⁸ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with thenitrogen atom to which they are attached; Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are eachindependently a single bond, alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; Z¹¹ is(a) hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or threehalogens, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl oraralkyl; or any two of Z⁷, Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene oralkenylene, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ringtogether with the atoms to which they are attached; each m isindependently 1 or 2; and each n is independently 0, 1 or 2; comprisingthe steps of (a) contacting a boronic acid of the formula IX or saltthereof

 where the phenyl group of said formula IX may be further substituted,and wherein “prot” is an alkoxymethyl nitrogen-protecting group, with acompound of formula III or salt thereof

 where R¹⁶ is halogen or a group —O-Q where Q is —SO₂CF₃, —SO₂CH₃, or

 and where the phenyl ring of said formula III may be furthersubstituted, in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, optionallya base, to form a nitrogen-protected compound of the formula IV or saltthereof

 where the phenyl rings of the biphenyl group may independently beunsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent groups; and(b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said compound of the formula IV or saltthereof to form said compound of the formula I or salt thereof.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, for the preparation of a compound of the followingformula Ia

and enantiomers and diastereomers, and salts thereof, wherein R¹ and R²are each directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independentlyselected from those groups (a) through (j) recited above for R³ and R⁴;R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, any of which maybe substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, (c) heterocycle, substitutedheterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (d) halo; (e) hydroxyl; (f) cyano; (g)nitro; (h) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (i) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (j) —SH, —S(O)_(n)R⁵,—S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OR⁵; —O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)m-OR⁵; (k)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; or (l)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; J is O, S, N or NR¹⁵; Kand L are N or C, provided that at least one of K or L is C; R¹⁵ ishydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyethoxy methyl or methoxyethoxy methyl; and p is0 or an integer from 1 to 2; comprising the steps of: (a) contacting aboronic acid of the formula IXa or salt thereof

 where “prot” is methoxymethyl, with a compound of the formula IIIa orsalt thereof

in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, optionally a base, toform a nitrogen-protected compound of the formula IVa or salt thereof

(b) deprotecting the nitrogen of said formula IVa compound or saltthereof to form said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof.
 30. Amethod for the preparation of an oxazole phenyl halide of the formulaIIIa(1) or salt thereof

Where R¹¹ and R¹² are as defined in claim 2 and R¹⁶ is halogen or agroup —O-Q where Q is —SO₂CF₃, —SO₂CH₃ or

comprising the steps of (a) contacting a phenyl acid halide compound offormula X or salt thereof

 with either triazole in the presence of a base, or an N-trimethylsilylderivative of triazole, to form a triazole amide the formula XI or saltthereof

(b) effecting a nitrogen elimination rearrangement of the triazole amideof formula XI or salt thereof, to form an oxazole of the formula IIIa(1)or salt thereof.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein, in said compoundof formula X, the halo group of the acid halide moiety is chloro, andR¹⁶ is chloro, bromo, or iodo.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein R¹¹is dihalomethyl and R¹² is hydrogen.
 33. The method of claim 30 whereinthe compound of formula X is contacted with triazole in the presence ofsodium hydride.
 34. A method for the preparation of compounds of theformula IIIa(2) or salts thereof.

comprising the step of (a) hydrolyzing a compound of formula IIIb orsalt thereof

 where *R¹¹ is dihalomethyl, in the presence of a nucleophilic base toform a compound of formula IIIa(2).
 35. The method of claim 34 whereinthe compound of formula IIIb is prepared by a method comprising thesteps of (a) contacting a compound of formula XXI

 with a suitable halogenating agent to form a compound of the formulaXXII

(b) converting said compound of formula XXII to an aryl acid halidecompound of formula Xa

(c) converting said compound of formula Xa to a compound of formula IIIbby either of the following processes (i) or (ii) (i) contacting thecompound of formula Xa with either triazole in the presence of a base,or an N-trimethylsilyl derivative of triazole, to form a triazole amidethe formula XI or salt thereof

 and effecting a nitrogen elimination rearrangement of the triazoleamide of formula XI or salt thereof, to form an oxazole of the formulaIIIb; or (ii) contacting the compound of formula Xa with with an amineacetal of the formula

 in the presence of a base and a solvent, to form an amide acetal of theformula

 and cyclizing the amide acetal in the presence of a cyclization agent,to form a compound of the formula IIIb.
 36. The method of claim 34 whereR¹⁶ is bromo or iodo, and *R¹¹ is dibromomethyl.
 37. The method of claim35 where R¹⁶ is bromo or iodo, and *R¹¹ is dibromomethyl.
 38. The methodof claim 35 where the compound of formula Xa is converted to thecompound of formula IIIb using the process (i).
 39. The method of claim35 where the compound of formula XXIII is converted to the compound offormula IIIb using the process (ii).
 40. A method for the preparation ofcompounds of the formula Ia or salts thereof

wherein one of X and Y is N and the other is O; R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ areeach directly bonded to a ring carbon and are each independently (a)hydrogen; (b) alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkylor aralkoxy, any of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; (c)halo; (d) hydroxyl; (e) cyano; (f) nitro; (g) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (h)—CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (i)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; (j)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; or (k) R³ and R⁴together may also be alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 4- to 8-membered saturated,unsaturated or aromatic ring together with the carbon atoms to whichthey are attached; R⁵ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, anyof which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰are each independently (a) hydrogen; or (b) alkyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, any of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³; or R⁶ and R⁷ together may be alkylene oralkenylene, either of which may be substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³,completing a 3- to 8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring togetherwith the nitrogen atom to which they are attached; or any two of R⁸, R⁹and R¹⁰ together are alkylene or alkenylene, either of which may besubstituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, completing a 3- to 8-membered saturatedor unsaturated ring together with the atoms to which they are attached;R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy, any of which maybe substituted with Z¹, Z² and Z³, (c) heterocycle, substitutedheterocycle or heterocyclooxy; (d) halo; (e) hydroxyl; (f) cyano; (g)nitro; (h) —C(O)H or —C(O)R⁵; (i) —CO₂H or —CO₂R⁵; (j) —SH, —S(O)_(n)R⁵,—S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵, —O—S(O)_(m)OH or—O—S(O)_(m)—OR⁵; (k)-Z⁴-NR⁶R⁷; or (1)-Z⁴-N(R¹⁰)-Z⁵-NR⁸R⁹; Z¹, Z² and Z³are each independently (a) hydrogen; (b) halo; (c) hydroxy; (d) alkyl;(e) alkenyl; (f) aryl; (g) aralkyl; (h) alkoxy; (i) aryloxy; (j)aralkoxy; (k) heterocycle, substituted heterocycle or heterocyclooxy;(l) —SH, —S(O)_(n)Z⁶, —S(O)_(m)—OH, —S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶, —O—S(O)_(m)-Z⁶,—O—S(O)_(m)OH or —O—S(O)_(m)—OZ⁶; (m) oxo; (n) nitro; (o) cyano; (p)—C(O)H or —C(O)Z⁶; (q) —CO₂H or —CO₂Z⁶; (r)-Z⁴-NZ⁷Z⁸;(s)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-H; (t)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-Z⁶; or (u)-Z⁴-N(Z¹¹)-Z⁵-NZ⁷Z⁸; Z⁴and Z⁵ are each independently (a) a single bond; (b)-Z⁹-S(O)_(n)-Z¹⁰-;(c)-Z⁹-C(O)-Z¹⁰-; (d)-Z⁹-C(S)-Z¹⁰-; (e)-Z⁹-O-Z¹⁰-; (f)-Z⁹-S-Z¹⁰-;(g)-Z⁹-O-C(O)-Z¹⁰-; or (h)-Z⁹-C(O)—O-Z¹⁰-; Z⁶ is alkyl; alkylsubstituted with one to three groups selected from halogen, aryl,aryloxy and alkoxy; alkenyl; alkynyl; cycloalkyl; cycloalkyl substitutedwith one to three groups selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl andalkoxyaryl; cycloalkyl to which is fused a benzene ring; aryloxysubstituted with one or two halogens; cycloalkylalkyl; cycloalkenyl;cycloalkenylalkyl; aryl; aryl substituted with methylenedioxy or one tofour groups selected from alkyl, dialkylamino, cyano, halogen,trihaloalkyl, alkoxy and trihaloalkoxy; or heterocycle or substitutedheterocycle; Z⁷ and Z⁸ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or Z⁷and Z⁸ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atomto which they are attached; Z⁹ and Z¹⁰ are each independently a singlebond, alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene; Z¹¹ is (a) hydrogen; or (b)alkyl, alkyl substituted with one, two or three halogens, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or any two of Z⁷,Z⁸ and Z¹¹ together are alkylene or alkenylene, completing a 3- to8-membered saturated or unsaturated ring together with the atoms towhich they are attached; J is O, S, N or NR¹⁵; K and L are N or C,provided that at least one of K or L is C; R¹⁵ is hydrogen, alkyl,hydroxyethoxy methyl or methoxyethoxy methyl; each m is independently 1or 2; each n is independently 0, 1 or 2; and p is 0 or an integer from 1to 2; comprising the steps of (a) lithiating a compound of the formulaIIIa or salt thereof

 with an alkyl or aryl lithium compound in the presence of atrialkylborate, followed by hydrolysis, to form a boronic acid of theformula XIII or salt thereof

(b) contacting the boronic acid of the formula XIII or salt thereof witha compound of the formula VIII or salt thereof

 in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and, optionally a base, toform a compound of the formula IVa or salt thereof.

(c) deprotecting the nitrogen of said formula IVa compound or saltthereof to form said compound of the formula Ia or salt thereof.
 41. ThecompoundN-(4,5-Dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2′-formyl-N-[methoxymethyl]4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide.42. A high melt polymorph of the compoundN-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamidehaving a melting point of about 166-168° C.
 43. A high melt polymorph oftheN-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamidehaving a melting point of about 156-158° C.
 44. A high melt polymorph ofthe compoundN-[[2′-[[(4,5-dimethyl-3-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamidehaving a melting point of about 116-118° C.